AHDB Potatoes has commented on news that three growers from Lincolnshire have organised a ballot to canvass opinion on the organisation, and in particular whether the levy should be compulsory for the horticulture and potato sectors.
Rob Clayton, AHDB Potato Strategy Director commented, “We welcome debate and people need to feel we are accountable. It’s important to recognise that our priorities and work is all shaped and driven by growers who sit on our boards, committees and panels.
“We get regular feedback that our work is valued by many potato growers, particularly on areas such as on sprout suppression and alternatives to CIPC, our SPot Farms and their focus on desiccation and virus management alongside the market insight produced to guide growers through Brexit-related challenges and more recently through Covid-19.”
He acknowledged that some are unhappy with the current levy arrangements, but insisted that the organisation is accountable to levy payers. “As a direct result of some of the comments received around the potato levy and its collection, we’re reviewing the basis of how it is calculated this summer and welcome businesses sharing their views with us,” he said.
“A ballot has never been denied to levy payers, as claimed. A statutory mechanism exists for a ballot to be triggered if 5% of levy payers write in to request one. In the potato sector this is less than 125 levy paying businesses. A total of 15 request have been received in the last five years from horticulture growers and none from potato growers.
The grower organised ballot runs for three weeks. Details of AHDB’s services can be found here: What do I get for my levy?